"The league position doesn’t lie, it’s made me more determined to do something about this." - Coventry City's Russell Slade

14 January 2017

Billie Marshall

Manager Russell Slade on the Sky Blues disappointing defeat against Chesterfield at the Proact...

Manager Russell Slade admitted his side did not reach the levels of their past two league performances, as the Sky Blues were defeated against fellow strugglers Chesterfield.

Dan Gardner scored the only goal of the game, before a Marcus Tudgay effort was ruled out for offside in the second half.

“I don’t think we got to the levels in the last two games and that’s what I told the players in the dressing room," Slade said. "They’ve got to be the best version of themselves if we are to get out of this situation.

“It’s a little bit of a messy game and I don’t think there was much in it. I did think we looked the most likely to score before they did, but we failed to convert some chances.

“Our organisation could have been better for the goal, it is a great strike but we’ve allowed him to come inside and get a shot away."

After the defeat, the Sky Blues sit bottom of League One and Slade admitted that next week's home fixture against Fleetwood is now more important than ever.

“It’s made me more determined to do something about this," the manager commented. "The league position doesn’t lie, the numbers do not lie and there is no excuse over a season.

“However, there are still plenty of points to be won throughout the season and we still have a wonderful opportunity to do something about it."

He added: "It’s a challenge but we have to embrace it and be mentally tough in these circumstances and makes the right decisions and the right choices.”